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<title>AXWORTHY TO ADVOCATE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">September 17, 1999 <em>(5:10 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 207</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">AXWORTHY TO ADVOCATE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT AT UN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will be in New York from September 20 to 24 and from September 29 to
October 1 to attend the 54th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and to participate in a
series of meetings and UN Security Council (UNSC) debates. Minister Axworthy will deliver Canada's address
to the General Assembly at 11:30 a.m. on September 23.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's focus at this year's General Assembly will be to press for timely action by member states on the
recently released report by the Secretary-General, entitled <em>The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict</em>. The
report, the product of a Canadian initiative last February, was the subject of a Council debate today that
resulted in the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 1265. This resolution, introduced by
Canada, provides Council backing for key report recommendations and commits the Council to a follow-up
process in which Canada will play a leading role. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada welcomes the establishment of a Council working group as a result of Resolution 1265, which will
seek early implementation of the Secretary-General's recommendations on the protection of civilians," said
Minister Axworthy. "We will continue to make this issue a priority for our Council term and beyond." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada's current membership on the UNSC has enhanced our ability to advance our human security agenda
within the UN through action on such priority issues as the protection of civilians in armed conflict, war-affected
children, conflict prevention and peacebuilding," added the Minister. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On September 20, Mr. Axworthy will participate in a UNSC hemispheric Ministerial Quadrilateral meeting
(United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina). The following day, the Minister will attend a trilateral foreign
ministerial dinner hosted by Mexican Foreign Minister Rosario Green, also attended by U.S. Secretary of State,
Madeleine Albright.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Minister will host a meeting on September 22 of Central American Foreign Ministers, including those from
Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the
<em>Secretariado de Integracion Centro Americano</em> (SICA). Minister Axworthy will welcome the active participation
of Central American countries in a number of Inter-American events that Canada is hosting later this year. He
will also work with his colleagues to identify areas for enhanced co-operation, and to develop hemispheric
strategies in response to the Secretary-General's report, <em>The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict</em>. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">During the evening of the 22nd, Minister Axworthy will meet with his colleagues from the G-8, as a follow-up to
their meeting in Cologne last June. In addition to addressing such critical UN issues as the situation in East
Timor, they will continue discussions of Cologne summit agreements, among which topics dealing with peace
and security figure prominently.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In addition to Canada's statement to the General Assembly on September 23, the Minister will deliver the
keynote address, "Civilians in War", at a dinner hosted by the Carnegie Foundation and the International Peace
Academy that evening. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On September 24 Minister Axworthy will co-host a luncheon for foreign ministers of countries participating in
the Human Security Network, which will provide an opportunity to discuss the Secretary-General's report and
areas for joint co-operation. The luncheon will also permit further dialogue on how the Network can build on
discussions launched at Bergen in 1998, with the establishment of Canada and Norway's Lysoen Partnership
for bilateral co-operation on human security.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Axworthy will attend the September 24 Security Council ministerial meeting on small arms and light
weapons and deliver the Canadian statement on the subject. The meeting is being convened by the Dutch,
who hold the Council's rotating presidency this month. The meeting will focus on the nature of the accumulation
and spread of small arms and the resultant impact on security, peacebuilding and development. Tackling the
challenges posed by small arms and light weapons is a key priority, which Canada has highlighted repeatedly
in the Security Council and in other international and regional forums. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On September 29, Mr. Axworthy will deliver a Canadian statement at a UNSC open debate on the situation in
Africa. The meeting will be chaired by Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok. Canada supports African initiatives to
develop independent policies in the areas of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and crisis response, and in
particular the efforts of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in conflict resolution and prevention.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In light of the Secretary-General's report, Mr. Axworthy will consult with Non-Governmental Organizations on
September 29, about how to work together on advancing the key priorities of the protection of civilians agenda.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) will meet from September 30 to October 1 to discuss two
key issues: how the Commonwealth can assist Sierra Leone achieve peace and reconstruction, and the future
of the CMAG. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Throughout his two weeks at UNGA 54, Minister Axworthy will meet with many of his counterparts in bilateral
sessions. During the course of these meetings, he plans to raise pressing consular matters, including the case
of Murray Hiebert, the Canadian journalist imprisoned in a Malaysian jail, and the ongoing Canadian hostage
situation in Ecuador. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray, Minister of State and Government House Leader Don Boudria, International
Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew, Minister for International Co-operation Maria Minna, and Secretary of State
(Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour, will also represent Canada in New York during the General Assembly.
Their programs include bilateral discussions and participation at various meetings.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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